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Born in Lewiston, Maine
January 13, 1966
Dempsey, an Irish American, was born in Lewiston, Maine and grew up in Turner, Maine, the youngest of three children born to Amanda and William Dempsey, an insurance agent. Dempsey attended St. Dominic Regional High School for his senior year, where his mother worked as a secretary, but dropped out before he graduated.
Can't Buy Me Love
August 14, 1987
Ronald Miller (Dempsey) is the typical school nerd that lacks popularity and many friends. Tired of being ignored or mistreated, he makes a deal with the head cheerleader and most popular girl of the school, Cindy Mancini (Peterson).
Ronald agrees to use his $1,000 savings, which he planned to use on a new telescope, to replace a wine-stained suede jacket Cindy damaged that belonged to her mother. In exchange, Cindy would help him look "cool" by pretending to be his girlfriend for a month. Cindy reluctantly accepts the deal.
In the meantime, Ronald trades his nerdy, but loyal friends in exchange for the shallow and narcissistic popular students, while also discovering his true feelings for Cindy.
The film ranked number 41 on Entertainment Weekly's list of the 50 Best High School Movies in 2006.
In The Mood
October 2, 1987
Dempsey's first major feature film role was at age 21 with Beverly D'Angelo in the movie In The Mood, the real life WW2 story about Ellsworth Wisecarver who had relationships with older married women which created a national uproar.
Loverboy
April 28, 1989
Randy Bodek (Dempsey) is a rebellious slacker in college, living with his girlfriend Jenny (Nancy Valen). His father, furious over Randy's lack of direction or work ethic, pulls the funding for college and requires Randy to come back home and get a job. Randy eventually finds work as a pizza delivery boy at Señor Pizza, but his pitiful earnings will not allow him to fund college on his own and he despairs of being able to return to Jenny next semester. In his capacity as delivery boy, he soon makes the acquaintance of a middle-aged, wealthy Italian woman: Alex Barnett (Barbara Carrera), who pampers and seduces him. She and Randy enjoy a quiet, brief, passionate affair before she must return to Italy. During the affair, Randy's increasingly stylish appearance, unusually chipper demeanor and gifts being delivered by a handsome Italian co-worker of Randy's (signed "Love, Alex"), inspire Randy's father to believe his son is gay.
Mobsters
July 26, 1991
Dempsey received good reviews as he portrayed real-life mob boss, Meyer Lansky in 1991, when Mobsters were put on the screen.
Married Jillian Fink
July 31, 1999 - Now
On July 31, 1999, Dempsey married Jillian Fink (now Jillian Fink Dempsey), a make-up artist and founder of Delux Beauty. The couple have three children: a daughter, Tallulah Fyfe, born in February 20, 2002, and twin sons Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick, born on February 1, 2007.
Once and Again
March 13, 2000 - March 22, 2002
Dempsey played the role of Aaron Brooks, Lily & Judy's psychologically unbalanced brother, on Once & Again. Dempsey received an Emmy nomination in 2001 as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for the role of Aaron.
Daughter Tallulah Fyfe Born
Feburary 20, 2002
Dempsey's daughter with wife Jillian Fink, Tallulah Fyfe, was born in February 20, 2002.
Sweet Home Alabama
September 27, 2002
Dempsey had a high-profile role as one of the suitors for Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama. The story is a love triangle involving two childhood Alabama sweethearts who married but became estranged, Jake Perry and Melanie Smooter (Lucas and Witherspoon), and Melanie's longtime boyfriend Andrew Hennings (Dempsey).
Iron Jawed Angels
Feburary 15, 2004
Dempsey co-starred in the highly acclaimed HBO production, Iron Jawed Angels, opposite Hilary Swank and Anjelica Huston.
Grey's Anatomy
March 27, 2005
Dempsey has received significant public attention for his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd in the drama Grey's Anatomy. Media attention has been focused on Dempsey's character Derek, often referred to as "McDreamy," for his sex appeal, and the character's romance with intern Meredith Grey (played by Ellen Pompeo).
Argument with Co-Star Isaiah Washington
October 1, 2006
The intense media attention has included coverage of some backstage friction. News reports surfaced in October 2006 that Dempsey was involved in an argument with co-star Isaiah Washington that appears to have become a physical altercation. News reports have also stated that this argument may have been initiated over Washington referring to T.R. Knight as a "faggot."
Twin Sons Born
Feburary 1, 2007
Dempsey's twin sons with wife Jillian Fink, Darby Galen and Sullivan Patrick, were born on February 1, 2007.
100 Most Beautiful People
May 1, 2007
Patrick was chosen as one of People Magazine's annual 100 Most Beautiful People in May 2007.
Pace Car Driver
May 27, 2007
Dempsey was the driver of Pace Car at 91st Indianapolis 500; May 27, 2007.
Enchanted
November 21, 2007
Patrick Dempsey as Robert Philip: After he was allowed to cast Adams as Giselle, Lima had to find more well-known actors for the other roles for Disney. He brought in Dempsey, whose starring role on TV series Grey's Anatomy had earned him the nickname "McDreamy", and described him as the "modern-day Prince Charming to today's audience". The role was challenging for Dempsey because he was the straight man, which meant most of the humor came from his reactions to the people around him. Dempsey's character, Robert, is a divorce lawyer living in New York City with his daughter Morgan.
